Saturday tour will highlight Redlands parks

REDLANDS - The city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission is planning to give a tour of parks Saturday.

The stops on the public tour will include Israel Beal Park, Redlands Sports Park, and A.K. Smiley Public Library.

The Parks Division maintains 14 parks totalling more than 143 acres.

The tour will depart from City Hall at 35 Cajon St. at 8 a.m. and will last three to four hours. Limited seating is available on the tour van on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants may also meet at City Hall and follow the van to each location with their own transportation.

Redlands park amenities include basketball courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, and spaces for live theater and music performances. There are also citrus groves and fisheries.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission is composed of eight residents and one student liaison, appointed to advise the city's Parks and Recreation staff and the City Council on the development and operation of parks and recreation programs.

Advisory commissioner Joe Gonzales said he wants to show people the decline of the parks in the area due to a lack of funding. He said people should be aware of the lack of facilities at the parks for children.

"It affects the kids through the whole city," said Gonzales. "They need a lot of fixing up."

"At one time, we had the best parks," said Gonzales. "Some people still come, but not like they used to."

The next Parks Commission meeting will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Civic Center Conference Room, 35 Cajon St., Suite 200.